Tough and Sweet

Albums such as these can make one wish that Coyne would choose to define himself as a folk singer, rather than a rock one. Like other of his recent albums, when he or other parties involved in the recording go for a full band sound, the results are usualy misfires. Coyne's idiosyncratic narratives aren't well-suited for heavy modern rock tracks, or fusionoid touches. He's not the Virgin Prunes, and at any rate shouldn't trying to be to lower himself to Gavin Friday's standards. As a songwriter, he remains as honest a cat as they come, but the incongruous qualities of the arrangements make these 21 songs a tough proposition to see through to completion.